Blood needed locally, and for national tragedies

After a gunman opened fire at a music festival, more than 400 people were transported to local hospitals. And starting in the early hours of Monday morning, the people of Las Vegas were lining up in droves to donate blood.
USA TODAY

Blood donations are needed locally but also to help those injured by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and people wounded in the mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Bob Jones University is doing its part with its semi-annual Blood Connection Drive.

Blood Connection buses will be located from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday next to the BJU Alumni Building near the university's Wade Hampton Boulevard entrance.

Students, alumni and the general public are invited to donate blood.

“By donating blood, students have the opportunity to serve people they may never meet and potentially save multiple lives,” said Hope Henry, a senior music education major from Woodbridge, Virginia, who serves as BJU’s community service council director.

“Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors, and as a student body, we can play a huge part in helping the Greenville community," Henry said.

The Blood Connection will be taking donation appointments. Donors who sign up for an appointment are given priority. However, setting up an appointment is not required.

Each donor will also receive a $10 Wal-Mart gift card.

To make an appointment, call 864-255-5000 or visit the website thebloodconnection.org.

Students, alumni and members of the public interested in donating blood are encouraged to eat a good amount or iron-rich foods (meats, spinach, and broccoli), drink a lot of water, and eat a good meal on the day they are donating.

The Blood Connection collects blood for use in the community but also helps blood centers in other areas of the nation, particularly in communities where recent tragedy has reduced blood supply, according to a spokesman for The Blood Connection.

Paul Hyde covers education and everything else under the South Carolina sun. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.